WHO board reviews 'health for all by year 2000' strategy.

WHO Board reviews "Health for All by Year 2000' Strategy

The first global evaluation of the World Health Organization's "Strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000' was reviewed by the 31-member Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO)(Geneva, 8-22 January). The Board also demanded action to protect the rights of non-smokers and to prevent and control the spread of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

The Board also asked for a special report on health and development in Africa, for review by the special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the critical economic situation in Africa in May.

Noting that 86 per cent of Member States had reported on evaluation of their national health strategies, the Board urged all Member States to work towards reducing "socioeconomic and related health disparities among people'.

Recognizing difficulties resulting from the ongoing economic crisis, the Board asked WHO's Director-General, Dr. Halfdan Mahler, to intensify further support to the least developed countries, with particular emphasis on rationalizing and mobilizing additional financial resources for strengthening their health infrastructure.

The health sector will face "unprecedented demands from a rapidly growing population, especially in African, Latin American and Eastern Mediterranean countries', the global report predicted. "Mortality and morbidity patterns are changing in the developing countries as diseases associated with underdevelopment persist and chronic illnesses and environmental health problems associated with the developed world emerge.'

The draft report, which synthesizes data supplied to WHO by 140 countries, is to be reviewed by the World Health Assembly in May.

Smoking control: The Board unanimously urged those member States which had not yet done so to implement smoking control strategies to ensure that non-smokers received effective protection, to which they were entitled, from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke, in enclosed public places, restaurants, transport and places of work and entertainment. The Board stated that "enforced smoking'--the inhaling of other people's smoke--"violates the right to health of non-smokers, who must be protected against this noxious form of environmental pollution.'

A report on tobacco use before the Board said that cigarette smoking was responsible for 90 per cent of all cases of lung cancer, 75 per cent of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and 25 per...